Photo – Military council forces are seen burning down Beesatkone village in the Yaylel Kyun area at 11:29 a.m. today (March 18). (Photo – Yesagyo Townshio Info Committee)

Junta forces, accompanied by Phyu Saw Htee militia, burned down Beesatkone village in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region, at around 11 am on 18 March, according to the Yesagyo Township Info Committee.

“Phyu Saw Htee members in Min village have been struggling with food shortages. Now, with the support of the military column, they have been looting food and belongings from nearby villages for the past three days. After seizing valuables, they set fire to Beesatkone village this morning,” said an officer from the committee.

According to local residents, junta forces have been forcibly taking property from villages in the Yelalkyun area, including Myaeswan, Beesatkone, Salthitmyin, and Myaetaw. The military column first entered the Yelalkyun area on 26 February, burning villages and killing 18 civilians.

Resistance forces reported that the military’s destruction resulted in the burning of 266 homes in Myaeswantaw village, 68 in Zayatne, 20 in Thargaung, several houses in Myaetaw, and three school buildings at a secondary school in Pannyo village, Myaung Township.

Among the 18 civilians killed, 11 were elderly residents or individuals unable to escape from Myaeswantaw village. Another six were killed in Thargaung and one in Myaetaw.

The junta column re-entered the Yelalkyun area on 14 March through Pannyo village in Myaung Township, later joining Phyu Saw Htee members in Min village. After their property was looted and houses burned, many local residents were forced to flee.

“This column is indiscriminately killing people and burning everything in sight, causing widespread panic,” said an official from the Yesagyo Township People’s Defence Forces.

The attacks have displaced residents from at least 10 villages in the Yelalkyun area, including Myaetaw, Shaethal, Myaeswan, Beesatkone, and Nyaunghmwepin, according to resistance sources.